I Tried Marilyn Monroe’s Bedtime Hack for a Week and I’m Never Going Back

Looking for better sleep and ways to feel like a Hollywood starlet? I tried taking advice from Marilyn Monroe and wore perfume to bed for a month. And it’s my new favorite part of my nighttime routine!

Marilyn Monroe’s Bedtime Perfume Trick

You’ve probably heard Monroe went to bed wearing CHANEL N°5 ($176). A pivotal moment in beauty and a great representation of her sexy-but-witty approach to her fame, Monroe and Chanel feel inseparable now. During a Life interview, she created that iconic bond between herself and CHANEL’s most famous scent.

“Once this fellow says ‘Marilyn, what do you wear to bed?’” Monroe explains. “So I said I only wear CHANEL N°5.”

Her fondness for the scent is a well-documented fact, and it has us wondering: is there something to wearing perfume to bed?

Scent and Sleep

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary and a major key to quality, calming sleep is smell. There’s a reason fresh linen is such a comforting scent. We know that aromatherapy can help us ground and slow down after a busy day. So, doesn’t it make sense to bring that sensation to your bed? We’re firm believers in a quality pillow mist. Plus, a great candle is an easy way to set the mood while you read a little before going lights out.

If this sounds like heaven, it’s a pretty short jump to introduce perfume or body mist to your sleep routine!

As a huge fan of fragrance, I took this opportunity to find my favorite scent notes for a calming sleep. Monroe might have been slipping into the sultry, magnetic power of CHANEL N°5, but I found that gourmands were my bedtime calling. Notes like vanilla and cream were perfect for nights when I wanted to feel cozy and warm. The most surprising note I was drawn to was smoke, which gave my nights a by-the-fire kind of comfort that I didn’t expect to love.

Sleepy Scents I Loved

1 / 6

Jo Malone London Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense ($160)

Vetiver bourbon adds an earthy freshness to this grounded vanilla scent that gives me the impression of sleeping with the windows open in early spring. Still warmed under the covers by vanilla bourbon, this scent is a perfect blanket.

• BUY ON NORDSTROM – $160
• BUY ON SAKS FIFTH AVENUE – $160

KEY NOTES

Cardamom, Vanilla Bourbon, Vetiver Bourbon

2 / 6

BURBERRY Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum with Vanilla & Lavender ($138)

To me, this scent is the perfect marriage of aromatherapy’s favorite soothing note, lavender, and the stand-out gourmand vanilla. Using several sources of vanilla to create a grounded and enriched scent, light florals soothe for a comforting overall impression.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $138
• BUY ON NORDSTROM – $138

KEY NOTES

Vanilla Infusion, Vanilla Caviar, Lavender

3 / 6

Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Milk Eau de Parfum ($115)

This creamy scent is a gourmand you can fall into, with layers of sweet vanilla, milk accord and just a touch of light florals. Think dreamy, bouncy clouds and a soothing sleep.

• BUY ON AMAZON – $115
• BUY ON SEPHORA – $115

KEY NOTES

Bourbon Vanilla Bean Extract, Upcycled Cocoa Shell, Frangipani

4 / 6

Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette ($165)

Smoky clove oil lends this scent a fireside quality I didn’t expect to love when falling asleep. It reminds me of a cozy nap on the couch with the fireplace going.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $165
• BUY ON NORDSTROM – $165

KEY NOTES

Clove Oil, Chestnut Accord, Vanilla Accord

5 / 6

Valentino Donna Born In Roma Intense Eau de Parfum ($105)

Created as a tribute to the sunset in Rome, this scent was one of my favorite ways to fall asleep. The embrace of vanilla and jasmine creates an ambery floral that’s warm and long-lasting.

 

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $105
• BUY ON NORDSTROM – $105

KEY NOTES

Vanilla, Jasmine, Benzoin

6 / 6

CHANEL No. 5 Eau de Parfum ($176)

The classic choice favored by Monroe, we had to include No. 5 on this list! For a good night’s sleep, the creamy scents of sandalwood and light floral of neroli work together for a truly soothing experience.

• BUY NOW – $176

KEY NOTES

Aldehydes, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood